Method for manufacturing semiconductor light emitting device

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device includes forming a separation groove on a major surface of a substrate. A semiconductor layer including a light emitting layer is formed on the substrate. The separation groove separates the semiconductor layer into a plurality of elements. The method includes forming an insulating film on the major surface of the substrate. The insulating film covers the semiconductor layer and a bottom surface of the separation groove provided on the substrate. The method includes separating the substrate from the semiconductor layer by irradiating the semiconductor layer with laser light from an surface of the substrate opposite to the major surface. An edge portion of irradiation area of the laser light is positioned near an edge portion of the semiconductor layer neighboring the separation groove.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-180402, filed on Aug. 3, 2009; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Light emitting devices using a blue or near-ultraviolet LED (light emitting diode) as a light source and emitting white light by means of phosphors have found wide applications in illumination devices as well as backlight sources for image display devices, and have been increasingly required for higher efficiency. Conventionally, a surface-mounted light emitting device with a light emitting element chip mounted on a lead frame and resin-molded is commercially available. Furthermore, for the purpose of increasing light extraction efficiency, a technique is proposed for removing the support substrate of the light emitting layer by the laser lift-off process (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,241,667).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A to 2D are schematic cross-sectional views showing a method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device of this embodiment;

FIGS. 3A to 3C are schematic views showing a separation groove in the semiconductor light emitting device of this embodiment;

FIG. 4A to FIG. 5C are schematic cross-sectional views showing a method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device of another embodiment; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic cross-sectional views of the semiconductor light emitting device of the another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device includes forming a separation groove on a major surface of a substrate. A semiconductor layer including a light emitting layer is formed on the substrate. The separation groove separates the semiconductor layer into a plurality of elements. The method includes forming an insulating film on the major surface of the substrate. The insulating film covers the semiconductor layer and a bottom surface of the separation groove provided on the substrate. The method includes separating the substrate from the semiconductor layer by irradiating the semiconductor layer with laser light from an surface of the substrate opposite to the major surface. An edge portion of irradiation area of the laser light is positioned near an edge portion of the semiconductor layer neighboring the separation groove.

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2D is a schematic cross-sectional view of a semiconductor light emitting device of an embodiment. Two instances, for example, of the semiconductor light emitting device separated from the wafer state are shown in FIG. 2D.

The semiconductor light emitting device of this embodiment includes a light emitting element 12 and a interconnection section. The light emitting element 12 includes a semiconductor layer 12 a and a semiconductor layer 12 b. The semiconductor layer 12 b has a structure in which a light emitting layer is sandwiched between a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding layer. The semiconductor layer 12 a is illustratively of n-type and functions as a lateral current path. However, the conductivity type of the semiconductor layer 12 a is not limited to n-type, but may be p-type.

The semiconductor layer 12 b is not provided on a portion of the opposite surface of the semiconductor layer 12 a from the top surface 60. An n-side electrode 13 is formed on that portion. A p-side electrode 14 is formed on the opposite surface of the semiconductor layer 12 b from the surface provided with the semiconductor layer 12 a.

The opposite side of the semiconductor layer 12 a and the semiconductor layer 12 b from the top surface 60 is covered with an insulating film 15. The top surface 60 is exposed from the insulating film 15. An n-side interconnection layer 18 and a p-side interconnection layer 19 are formed on the opposite surface of the insulating film 15 from the top surface 60 and separated from each other.

The n-side electrode 13 is electrically connected to the n-side interconnection layer 18 through an n-side contact portion 16. The p-side electrode 14 is electrically connected to the p-side interconnection layer 19 through a p-side contact portion 17.

An n-side metal pillar 21 is provided below the n-side interconnection layer 18. A p-side metal pillar 22 is provided below the p-side interconnection layer 19. The periphery of the n-side metal pillar 21, the periphery of the p-side metal pillar 22, the n-side interconnection layer 18, and the p-side interconnection layer 19 are covered with a resin 20.

An external terminal 23 illustratively made of a solder ball or metal bump and to be connected to an external circuit is provided on the lower end surface of the n-side metal pillar 21 and the p-side metal pillar 22 exposed from the resin 20.

The semiconductor layer 12 a is electrically connected to the external terminal 23 through the n-side electrode 13, the n-side contact portion 16, the n-side interconnection layer 18, and the n-side metal pillar 21. The semiconductor layer 12 b is electrically connected to the external terminal 23 through the p-side electrode 14, the p-side contact portion 17, the p-side interconnection layer 19, and the p-side metal pillar 22.

Even if the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b are thin, mechanical strength can be maintained by thickening the n-side metal pillar 21, the p-side metal pillar 22, and the resin 20. Furthermore, in the case where the individual semiconductor light emitting device is mounted on a circuit board or the like via the external terminals 23, the stress applied to the light emitting element 12 through the external terminals 23 can be absorbed and relaxed by the n-side metal pillar 21 and the p-side metal pillar 22.

Next, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device of this embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 3C.

First, as shown in FIG. 1A, a stacked body of a semiconductor layer 12 a and a semiconductor layer 12 b is formed on the major surface of a substrate 1. The semiconductor layer 12 b, after being formed entirely on the semiconductor layer 12 a, is patterned using a resist mask, not shown, and separated into a plurality. For instance, in the case where the light emitting layer is made of a nitride semiconductor, the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b can be crystallized on the substrate 1 illustratively made of sapphire.

Next, part of the semiconductor layer 12 a is removed illustratively by RIE (reactive ion etching) or laser ablation to form a separation groove 31 as shown in FIG. 1B. This separation groove 31 separates the semiconductor layer 12 a and the semiconductor layer 12 b into a plurality of light emitting elements 12 on the major surface of the substrate 1. The separation groove 31 is illustratively formed like a lattice as shown in FIG. 3A. The planar shape of each light emitting element 12 is formed generally like a quadrangle whose periphery is surrounded like a frame by the separation groove 31.

A p-side electrode 14 is formed on the surface of the semiconductor layer 12 b. An n-side electrode 13 is formed on a portion of the surface of the semiconductor layer 12 a not covered with the semiconductor layer 12 b.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1C, an insulating film 15 covering the semiconductor layer 12 a and the semiconductor layer 12 b is formed on the substrate 1. The insulating film 15 is illustratively made of an organic material such as photosensitive polyimide. Thus, the separation groove 31 is filled with the insulating film 15.

Next, an opening reaching the n-side electrode 13 and an opening reaching the p-side electrode 14 are formed in the insulating film 15. Then, an n-side contact portion 16 is provided in the opening reaching the n-side electrode 13, and a p-side contact portion 17 is provided in the opening reaching the p-side electrode 14. Furthermore, on the insulating film 15, an n-side interconnection layer 18 connected to the n-side contact portion 16 and a p-side interconnection layer 19 connected to the p-side contact portion 17 are formed.

The n-side contact portion 16, the p-side contact portion 17, the n-side interconnection layer 18, and the p-side interconnection layer 19 are illustratively formed by the plating process. That is, a seed metal, not shown, is formed on the inner wall of the opening formed in the insulating film 15 and on the surface of the insulating film 15, and then metal deposition is performed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1D, an n-side metal pillar 21 is provided on the n-side interconnection layer 18, and a p-side metal pillar 22 is provided on the p-side interconnection layer 19. The periphery of these n-side metal pillar 21 and p-side metal pillar 22 is filled with a resin 20. The resin 20 covers the n-side interconnection layer 18, the p-side interconnection layer 19, the periphery of the n-side metal pillar 21, and the periphery of the p-side metal pillar 22. The upper surface of the n-side metal pillar 21 and the p-side metal pillar 22 is exposed from the resin 20. The resin 20 is illustratively composed of epoxy resin, silicone resin, or fluororesin mixed with a filler. The resin 20 is provided also on the insulating film 15 on the separation groove 31.

The n-side contact portion 16, the p-side contact portion 17, the n-side interconnection layer 18, the p-side interconnection layer 19, the n-side metal pillar 21, and the p-side metal pillar 22 can be made of such a material as copper, gold, nickel, and silver. Among them, it is more preferable to use copper, which has good thermal conductivity, high migration resistance, and superior contact with the insulating film 15.

After the structure of FIG. 1D is obtained, the processes of FIGS. 2A to 2D follow. It is noted that FIGS. 2A to 2D are depicted with the vertical positional relationship of the substrate 1 and the light emitting element 12 turned upside down with respect to FIGS. 1A to 1D.

FIG. 2A shows the process for removing the substrate 1 by the laser lift-off process. The semiconductor layer 12 a is irradiated with the laser light L. The laser light L is applied to the semiconductor layer 12 a from the opposite surface (rear surface) side of the substrate 1, opposite to the major surface on which the light emitting element 12 is formed. The wavelength of the laser light L is such that the substrate 1 is transparent (transmissive) to the laser light L and that the wavelength falls in the absorption region of the semiconductor layer 12 a.

When the laser light L reaches the interface between the substrate 1 and the semiconductor layer 12 a, the semiconductor layer 12 a near the interface is thermally decomposed by absorbing the energy of the laser light L. For instance, in the case where the semiconductor layer 12 a is made of GaN, it is decomposed into Ga and nitrogen gas. Ga is left on the semiconductor layer 12 a side. This thermal decomposition forms a small gap between the substrate 1 and the semiconductor layer 12 a, thereby separating the substrate 1 from the semiconductor layer 12 a.

The laser light L is applied to the light emitting element 12 illustratively one by one. Here, the edge portion of the irradiation area of laser light L is positioned in the separation groove 31. The edge portion 50 of the irradiation area of laser light L is indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 2A and 3B. The generally quadrangular region inside the edge portion 50 is the irradiation area for one shot of laser light.

Upon irradiation with the laser light L, a gas is generated by vaporization due to abrupt thermal decomposition of the semiconductor layer 12 a. At this time, impact of the high-pressure gas on the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b may cause cracking, crystal dislocation, fracture and the like in the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b. The gas generated by thermal decomposition of the semiconductor layer 12 a can diffuse in the plane direction through a gap produced between the substrate 1 and the semiconductor layer 12 a. However, the outside of the irradiation area of laser light L remains in the solid phase without being laser heated. Hence, the solid-phase portion restricts the diffusion of the gas, and the gas pressure is likely to increase at its edge portion 50. Furthermore, a large stress is likely to act on the edge portion 50 of the irradiation area of laser light L because of the energy difference, temperature difference, phase difference and the like between the applied portion and the unapplied portion of laser light L. Hence, the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b tend to be damaged particularly at the edge portion 50 of the irradiation area of laser light L.

Thus, in this embodiment, the edge portion 50 of the irradiation area of laser light L is positioned in the separation groove 31. The semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b do not exist in the separation groove 31, and hence the edge portion 50 of the irradiation area of laser light L is not positioned in the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b. Thus, damage to the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b can be prevented.

Furthermore, the insulating film 15 illustratively made of polyimide, which is more flexible than the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b, is provided in the separation groove 31. Deformation of this insulating film 15 relaxes stress and can prevent a large stress from acting on the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b. Furthermore, the gas can also be released through the gap between the substrate 1 and the insulating film 15 in the separation groove 31, produced by the deformation of the insulating film 15.

Furthermore, if the separation groove 31 is empty, then because of a large refractive index difference from that of the semiconductor layer 12 a, the wave front of laser light L near the separation groove 31 is greatly refracted toward the semiconductor layer 12 a, and the electric field intensity is greatly disturbed. This causes disturbances in the intensity of the laser light L near the end portion of the semiconductor layer 12 a, and unfortunately, the removing condition of the substrate 1 by the laser lift-off process is likely to be unstable.

In contrast, in this embodiment, the separation groove 31 is filled with the insulating film 15. This decreases the refractive index difference and reduces the bending of the wave front of laser light L. Thus, the intensity distribution of laser light L can be made more stable, and the instability of the removing condition can be prevented.

It is preferable that the separation groove 31 be filled with the insulating film 15. However, even if it is not filled, if the insulating film 15 is provided near the periphery of the semiconductor layer 12 a on the major surface of the substrate 1, the aforementioned wave front bending of laser light L due to refractive index difference is suppressed. This can achieve the effect of stabilizing the intensity distribution and facilitating stabilization of the removing condition.

As described above, this embodiment can prevent damage to the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b when the laser light L is applied thereto. This makes it possible to prevent the decrease of light emission efficiency and light extraction efficiency, and current leak.

Also for another light emitting element 12, as shown in FIG. 2B, the laser light L is applied so that the edge portion 50 of the irradiation area of laser light L is positioned in the separation groove 31. Thus, also in that light emitting element 12, the substrate 1 can be separated from the semiconductor layer 12 a without damage to the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b.

Application of the laser light L as described above is performed for all the light emitting elements 12 to separate the substrate 1 from the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b throughout the wafer. Furthermore, the application of laser light L also to the separation groove 31 reduces the adhesive strength between the insulating film 15 provided in that separation groove 31 and the substrate 1. This allows the substrate 1 to be removed from above the light emitting element 12. The area where the insulating film 15 is in contact with the substrate 1 in the separation groove 31 is much smaller than the overall area of the wafer. Hence, even if the insulating film 15 in the separation groove 31 is not completely separated from the substrate 1, the substrate 1 can be removed by simply reducing the adhesive strength.

Furthermore, the irradiation area of laser light L shown in FIG. 2A in which the application of laser light L is performed earlier is slightly overlapped in the separation groove 31 with the irradiation area of laser light L shown in FIG. 2B in which the irradiation with laser light L is performed later. This avoids occurrence of an unirradiated portion with the laser light L in the insulating film 15 provided in the separation groove 31, reliably reduces the adhesive strength between that insulating film 15 and the substrate 1, and facilitates stripping the substrate 1.

Here, the overlapping portion of laser light L is located on the insulating film 15. Hence, as compared with the case where the separation groove 31 is empty, the wave front bending of laser light L due to refractive index difference is suppressed. This can achieve the effect of stabilizing the intensity distribution and facilitating stabilization of the removing condition.

Alternatively, the adjacent irradiation areas may not overlap in the separation groove 31. In this case, an unirradiated portion with the laser light L occurs in the insulating film 15 provided in the separation groove 31. Some unirradiated portion is allowed to occur in the insulating film 15 to the extent that removing of the substrate 1 is not affected.

By first applying laser light to the light emitting elements 12 on the outer side of the wafer, the gas generated by applying laser light to the light emitting elements 12 on the inner side of the wafer can be released to the space outside the wafer through the gap between the semiconductor layer 12 a on the outer side and the substrate 1 and through the gap between the insulating film 15 in the separation groove 31 around that semiconductor layer 12 a and the substrate 1. That is, laser light is first applied to the outer side of the wafer so that the release route of the gas to the outside of the wafer is successively connected to the inner side. This can prevent damage to each light emitting element 12 throughout the wafer.

Even if the separation groove 31 is filled with the insulating film 15, the gas pressure can be relaxed through the gap which is produced by deformation of the resin or by fine removing of the resin from the substrate 1 when the gas pressure increases. Thus, the effect of being able to reduce damage to the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b is achieved.

The application of laser light L is not limited to one-by-one application to the light emitting element 12 separated by the separation groove 31, but may be performed in blocks of a plurality of light emitting elements 12. FIG. 3C shows an example in which laser light application for one shot is illustratively performed on four light emitting elements 12. Also in the case of application in blocks of a plurality of light emitting elements 12, the edge portion 50 of the irradiation area of laser light L is positioned in the separation groove 31.

After the substrate 1 is removed, as shown in FIG. 2C, a solder ball, metal bump or the like functioning as an external terminal 23 is formed on the lower end portion of the n-side metal pillar 21 and the p-side metal pillar 22. Subsequently, dicing is performed along the separation groove 31 for singulation as shown in FIG. 2D. The singulation may be performed for each single light emitting element 12, or in blocks of a plurality of light emitting elements 12.

The aforementioned processes up to dicing are each performed collectively in the wafer state, hence enabling production at low cost. Furthermore, the package structure including the protective resin, interconnections, and electrodes is formed at the wafer level. This facilitates downsizing in which the planar size of the semiconductor light emitting device is close to the planar size of the bare chip (light emitting element 12).

Next, FIG. 4A shows an embodiment in which the edge portion 50 of the irradiation area of laser light L is positioned at the edge portion 12 e of the semiconductor layer 12 a neighboring the separation groove 31 or slightly inside that edge portion 12 e on the semiconductor layer 12 a side.

When the laser light L is applied, damage to the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b is likely to occur at the boundary where the energy, temperature, phase and the like greatly vary. Depending on the laser irradiation condition and the irradiated object, the boundary where the energy, temperature, phase and the like greatly vary does not necessarily coincide with the edge portion 50 of the irradiation area. Some energy and heat of the laser light L may reach the portion outside that edge portion 50. In that case, the boundary where the energy, temperature, phase and the like greatly vary lies outside the edge portion 50 of the application area.

Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the edge portion 50 of the irradiation area of laser light L is positioned at the edge portion 12 e of the semiconductor layer 12 a or slightly inside that edge portion 12 e on the semiconductor layer 12 a side so that the boundary where the energy, temperature, phase and the like greatly vary lies in the separation groove 31. This can prevent damage to the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b because the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b do not exist in the separation groove 31 including the boundary where the energy, temperature, phase and the like greatly vary.

Furthermore, because the insulating film 15 in the separation groove 31 is not covered with the application area of laser light L, action of excessive energy and heat on the insulating film 15 in the separation groove 31 can be suppressed. This can prevent degradation of reliability due to cracks in the insulating film 15 and the stress to the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b due to large deformation of the insulating film 15.

Next, FIG. 4B shows an embodiment in which a groove 32 is formed in the substrate 1. The groove 32 is formed in a portion of the substrate 1 opposed to the separation groove 31. The groove 32 is illustratively formed like a lattice throughout the wafer, like the separation groove 31 shown in FIG. 3A. The width of the groove 32 is smaller than the width of the separation groove 31, and the edge portion of the semiconductor layer 12 a does not overlap the groove 32.

When the laser light L is applied, the gas generated at the interface between the substrate 1 and the semiconductor layer 12 a can be released to the outside of the wafer through the groove 32. The application of laser light L results in decreasing the adhesive strength between the insulating film 15 in the separation groove 31 and the substrate 1, or deforming the insulating film 15. This allows the gas generated at the interface between the substrate 1 and the semiconductor layer 12 a to easily pass between the insulating film 15 and the substrate 1 and reach the groove 32.

By forming the groove 32, the gas generated upon the application of laser light L can be effectively released, and the increase of gas pressure near the light emitting element 12 can be prevented. In this case, application of laser light may be performed not from the outer side of the wafer. Because the groove 32 for gas release is already formed throughout the wafer, the gas generated can be released to the outside of the wafer through the groove 32 even if application of laser light is first performed on the inner side of the wafer.

After the separation groove 31 is formed in the process shown in FIG. 1B described above, the groove 32 is formed in a portion opposed to the separation groove 31. Subsequently, the insulating film 15 is formed on the major surface of the substrate 1. The insulating film 15 is supplied in a liquid or viscous state onto the major surface of the substrate 1, and then cured. Thus, if the width of the groove 32 is as small as e.g. 1 μm or less and the insulating film 15 is illustratively made of polyimide with relatively high viscosity, then the groove 32 can be left unfilled with the insulating film 15.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4C, a groove 33 may be formed on the insulating film 15 side. The groove 33 is formed as a void in the insulating film 15 provided in the separation groove 31. The groove 33 is also illustratively formed like a lattice throughout the wafer, like the separation groove 31 shown in FIG. 3A. The width of the groove 33 is smaller than the width of the separation groove 31, and the edge portion of the semiconductor layer 12 a does not overlap the groove 33.

Also in this case, when the laser light L is applied, the gas generated at the interface between the substrate 1 and the semiconductor layer 12 a can be released to the outside of the wafer through the groove 33. Furthermore, application of laser light may be performed not from the outer side of the wafer. Because the groove 33 for gas release is already formed throughout the wafer, the gas generated can be released to the outside of the wafer through the groove 33 even if application of laser light is first performed on the inner side of the wafer.

After the process of FIG. 1D, a void can be formed in the insulating film 15 by laser ablation in which laser light is locally applied from the rear side of the substrate 1 to the insulating film 15 provided in the separation groove 31. This laser light has a narrower irradiation area than the laser light L for removing the substrate 1, and is narrowed like a spot. By this laser ablation, part of the insulating film 15 provided in the separation groove 31 can be vaporized to form a groove 33. Thus, at least the portion where the groove 33 is to be formed is preferably made of a resin vaporizable by laser ablation, such as polyester, polycarbonate, and polyurethane. Because the groove 33 is formed throughout the wafer, the vaporized resin is released to the outside of the wafer through the groove 33.

FIGS. 5A to 5C show another method for forming a separation groove separating the semiconductor layer 12 a.

This method follows the process up to FIG. 1D without performing the process of forming the separation groove 31 at the stage shown in FIG. 1B described above. Hence, as shown in FIG. 5A, the semiconductor layer 12 a is not separated but remains connected.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, laser ablation is performed in which laser light L′ is locally applied from the rear side of the substrate 1 only to a portion where a separation groove is to be formed. This laser light L′ has a narrower irradiation area than the laser light L for removing the substrate, and is narrowed like a spot. By this laser ablation, part of the semiconductor layer 12 a is vaporized and removed. Thus, a separation groove 34 separating the semiconductor layer 12 a is formed. Because the insulating film 15 is not provided in this separation groove 34, the separation groove 34 also functions as an release route for gas generated by the application of laser light L for stripping the substrate. The separation groove 34 is also illustratively formed like a lattice throughout the wafer.

To ensure complete separation of the semiconductor layer 12 a, it is preferable to also remove, by laser ablation, a portion of the insulating film 15 in contact with the portion of the semiconductor layer 12 a where the separation groove 34 is formed. Thus, that portion is preferably made of a material vaporizable by laser ablation, such as polyester, polycarbonate, and polyurethane described above. By removing part of the insulating film 15, the cross-sectional area of the route for gas release can also be increased to effectively release the gas.

To remove the substrate, as shown in FIG. 5C, the laser light L is applied so that the edge portion 50 of the irradiation area of laser light L is positioned in the separation groove 34 where the light emitting element 12 does not exist. This can prevent damage to the light emitting element 12. Furthermore, because the gas can be released through the separation groove 34, which is a void, the increase of gas pressure near the light emitting element 12 can be avoided more effectively.

FIG. 6A shows a structure in which the side surface of the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b is covered with a passivation film 70 illustratively made of a dielectric such as silicon oxide and silicon nitride. This can suppress leak current and prevent degradation of reliability due to oxidation of the side surface of the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b. By separating the passivation film 70 in the separation groove 31, impact at the time of removing the substrate 1 by the laser lift-off process can be inhibited from propagating to the adjacent elements through the passivation film 70.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6B, a void 71 can be formed below the passivation film 70 at the position of the separation groove 31. Thus, the release route for gas generated at the time of laser lift-off can be actively secured, and damage to the semiconductor layers 12 a, 12 b due to impact can be suppressed. The void 71 can be formed by forming a sacrificial layer in the separation groove 31 on the substrate 1 and removing the sacrificial layer by etching and the like.

The material, size, shape, layout and the like of the substrate, light emitting element, electrode, interconnection layer, metal pillar, insulating film, and resin can be variously modified by those skilled in the art, and such modifications are also encompassed within the scope of the invention as long as they do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel devices and methods described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the devices and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device, comprising: forming a separation groove on a major surface of a substrate having a semiconductor layer including a light emitting layer formed, the separation groove separating the semiconductor layer into a plurality of elements; forming an insulating film on the major surface of the substrate, the insulating film covering the semiconductor layer and covering a bottom surface of the separation groove provided on the substrate; and separating the substrate from the semiconductor layer by irradiating the semiconductor layer with laser light from an surface of the substrate opposite to the major surface, an edge portion of irradiation area of the laser light being positioned near an edge portion of the semiconductor layer neighboring the separation groove.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the edge portion of the irradiation area of the laser light is positioned in the separation groove.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the edge portion of the irradiation area of the laser light is positioned on the semiconductor layer side of the separation groove.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming a groove in a portion of the substrate opposed to the separation groove.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the groove formed in the substrate has a smaller width than the separation groove.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming a void devoid of the insulating film in part of the separation groove.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the forming the void includes vaporizing part of the insulating film in the separation groove by locally irradiating the insulating film in the separation groove with second laser light from the surface of the substrate opposite to the major surface.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes a plurality of regions in a plan view, and the regions are irradiated with laser shot.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the irradiation areas of the laser light applied to adjacent regions of the regions are overlapped with each other in the separation groove.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the laser light is first applied to an outer region in the plane of the substrate.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the separation groove is formed like a lattice surrounding a periphery of the element.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the separation groove is filled with a resin serving as the insulating film.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming a first interconnection layer and a second interconnection layer on a surface of the insulating film opposite to the semiconductor layer, the first interconnection layer and the second interconnection layer being electrically connected to the semiconductor layer and separated from each other.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: forming a first metal pillar on a surface of the first interconnection layer opposite to the insulating film; and forming a second metal pillar on a surface of the second interconnection layer opposite to the insulating film.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first interconnection layer and the second interconnection layer are simultaneously formed by plating, and the first metal pillar and the second metal pillar are simultaneously formed by plating.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: covering the insulating film, a periphery of the first metal pillar, and a periphery of the second metal pillar with a resin.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein after the first metal pillar, the second metal pillar, and the resin are formed, the substrate is separated from the semiconductor layer by irradiating the semiconductor layer with the laser light.
 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming an electrode on a surface of the semiconductor layer opposite to the substrate; forming a contact portion in the insulating film so as to reach the electrode; forming an interconnection layer on the insulating film, the interconnection layer being electrically connected to the electrode via the contact portion; and forming a metal pillar on the interconnection layer.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: forming a resin layer on the insulating film so as to cover the interconnection layer and the metal pillar.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the separation groove is filled with a resin serving as the insulating film. 